LETTER FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Welcome to the Spring edition of TEAM & Family Magazine. We hope your family is safe and well. As we navigated the majority of our school year in virtual classrooms, we are more grateful than ever for your support of your child’s educational journey.

We are hopeful that declining COVID-19 cases and the widespread availability of vaccines will ensure that students spend 100% of next school year in our classrooms five days a week, a process we are beginning now with our learning centers.

This past year, our country continued to confront a long overdue racial reckoning exposing longstanding systemic racism. While we are heartened by the step towards accountability found in the conviction of Derek Chauvin for George Floyd’s murder, we know that accountability and justice are not the same. Throughout this year, our leaders and teachers have engaged in professional development in race, equity, and inclusivity so that we can create schools and classrooms that support every child. KIPP Newark unequivocally believes that Black Lives Matter, and is committed to working with our broader community to pursue justice.

In August of 2021, we are excited to welcome three new schools to the KIPP Newark community (check out page 6 for more!).

In this issue of TEAM & Family Magazine, you will find:

We hope you take this summer to relax and reconnect (when it’s safe!) with family and friends.

If you need additional support during this time, please call our hotline at 973-6797199—and head to page 23 for academic resources to keep your child engaged in learning this summer.

Extracurricular Engagement

Hear the voices of our students and staff who kept virtual clubs and extracurricular activities going during COVID-19 on page 11.

Celebrating Essential Workers

During a pandemic, many members of our team and family worked behind the scenes to ensure the Newark community stayed safe. Read their stories (and find out who gave the first COVID-19 vaccine in NJ!) on page 15.

Student Writing

Our students’ voices always shine through. Check out the work of our student writers, and their recommendations for summer reading on page 20.

Take care, Joanna Belcher Executive Director, KIPP Newark

in this issue

LETTER FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 02 SCHOOL UPDATES 04 KIPP NEWARK NEW SCHOOLS 06 SECRETS TO NAILING THE COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS 08 CONNECTION, CREATIVITY, AND SERVICE: EXTRACURRICULARS DURING COVID-19 11 CELEBRATING ESSENTIAL WORKERS IN OUR TEAM + FAMILY 15 CONNECTION AND COMMUNITY: KIPP NEWARK ALUMNI NETWORK 18 CELEBRATING OUR STUDENT AUTHORS 20 FAMILY RESOURCES 23

TEAM & FAMILY CONTRIBUTORS

A special thank you to the KIPP parents, families, teachers, and staff for partnering with us and contributing to this issue.

RESOURCES

Visit kippnj.org/school-resources for student handbooks and more information about your child’s school.

COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS?

marketing@kippnj.org

ABOUT KIPP NJ

The mission of KIPP New Jersey is to create a network of schools in Camden and Newark, New Jersey, that instill in their students the desire and ability to succeed in college, in order to change the world.

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL! @KIPPNewark